Cottlesloe, AU (outside Perth) 
It's been a few days since I've had the time or inclination to post a new blog, but today's the day. A morning with no 'schedule.' Nice down time.
I'm falling in love.
Ted and Jane's children are the reason. Madeleine, 14 and the eldest, has taken over her parents' master bedroom and when she agrees with me she's got a pretty good deal her smile lights the large room. Ted is likely to need a baseball bat soon. Boys are not far off… I've got experience in these things.
Samantha, too, will break men's hearts. She's a year younger than Madeleine, beautiful, lithe and graceful both with and without a basketball in her hands. As do all of them, she has eyes and a smile that melt nearby objects.
Ander is Tom Cruise at 8. Ever in motion except when he's asleep, his naturally outgoing personality draws people to him like a magnet. We've explored his Pirates of the Caribbean collection, his Space books (he loves the Shuttle pictures) and his American coin collection. We've got lots more to do together before I leave.
Jane and Ted manage them all with quiet love and attention, and their dinner table is awash in good conversation, laughter, exploration of daily events and plans for what's next. I seem to be an honored and welcome guest and bear news of a foreign land that holds varying degrees of interest. There's talk of colleges in the states. Madeleine, strong maybe; Samantha, nope; Ander, You betcha! The states will be lucky to capture one or more. Any of them will bring much to us. They've all kept me busy since I've arrived. Beach in scorching heat on Day 1, getting settled and doing some essential shopping on Day 2, a trip to Rottnest (Rats' Nest in Dutch…named I'm told for a native marsupial that looks like a rat) Island off shore on Day 3 and a planned sail on the Swan River this afternoon with Murray, Jane's dad's close friend and excellent shipmate.
This is Barney, 
Jane's dad, and his craft 
preparing for our trip to Rottsnest. It's a 12 mile trip across semi-protected water to this uninhabited recreational destination. A license allows sport fishermen two crayfish (lobster) pots and since Barney and his wife are leaving for Africa next week he wanted to pull them.
Jane's dad, and his craft 
preparing for our trip to Rottsnest. It's a 12 mile trip across semi-protected water to this uninhabited recreational destination. A license allows sport fishermen two crayfish (lobster) pots and since Barney and his wife are leaving for Africa next week he wanted to pull them. The seas were 'heavy' in his and Murray's estimation. Murray was great to watch handle the seas and pull the pots at the same time. I'd have been overboard. I coiled line, managed to stay on my feet and not puke on the deck…or elsewhere, either. Had there been 3 pots to pull I'm not so sure. We grossed 10 (9 in one, 1 in the other) but only netted 4 after inspection of their bellies. A black spot on their underside means breeding and the penalties for keeping one of these are severe. Had one of them as an appetizer last night. It's lighter and seems less rich than our lobster. Great flavor.
Potts pulled, we headed for a pretty little bay and had a swim in crystal clear water. 
Then came tea (good coffee, thanks to a press, and cakes) on board 
before heading back to Fremantle. Barney and Murray, like many of the people I've met, are very interested and aware of American politics and wonder how Mr. Obama is doing. My stock answer, sincerely felt, is that the man inherited an extraordinary burden, has perhaps overreached but is learning and deserves more time before any conclusions are reached. The Massachusetts Scott Brown election story was well known, too.
Then came tea (good coffee, thanks to a press, and cakes) on board 
before heading back to Fremantle. Barney and Murray, like many of the people I've met, are very interested and aware of American politics and wonder how Mr. Obama is doing. My stock answer, sincerely felt, is that the man inherited an extraordinary burden, has perhaps overreached but is learning and deserves more time before any conclusions are reached. The Massachusetts Scott Brown election story was well known, too. The beach at Cottlesloe is spectacular. I've been up at 6 every morning and in the water soon after. It's been a long time since I've incorporated any kind of distance swimming into a pt program, but it makes real sense here. The water is August Nantucket (south beach) warm and at that time of day can be flat calm. I'm not in great shape, but have been setting and making reasonable objectives. As expected, I'm not alone out there. Dozens of people from young adult hood to old codgers like me are out there too.This is a relay race. School children are here with their teachers for their gym classes. 
There's a 'Sculpture by the Sea' exhibition going on at the beach, too. 
The artists and volunteers began setting it up Monday and it's pretty much in full swing now thru the weekend. Great fun in this sun drenched place. $10AU buys a catalogue and explains some of the unknowable themes. Some are very knowable, however. This is one of my favorites. AU apparently is referred to by Kiwis as the 'Land of Don't.' I must be used to signs (we sure have our share) but the many of the Aussies I've met see them proliferating and polluting the culture. This artist seems to agree. [Remember, you can enlarge these pictures by clicking on them. I think you should be able to read the print.] 
I'll post some more pictures in a Picassa photo album if I ever get around to it.
There's a 'Sculpture by the Sea' exhibition going on at the beach, too. 
The artists and volunteers began setting it up Monday and it's pretty much in full swing now thru the weekend. Great fun in this sun drenched place. $10AU buys a catalogue and explains some of the unknowable themes. Some are very knowable, however. This is one of my favorites. AU apparently is referred to by Kiwis as the 'Land of Don't.' I must be used to signs (we sure have our share) but the many of the Aussies I've met see them proliferating and polluting the culture. This artist seems to agree. [Remember, you can enlarge these pictures by clicking on them. I think you should be able to read the print.] 
I'll post some more pictures in a Picassa photo album if I ever get around to it.Here's the setting for this post. 
Not too hard to handle. That's my laptop open in the background.
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